Series points leader Bill Balog of Brookfield, WI, will lead upwards of 20 IRA Outlaw Sprint Series driver into battle at the ABC Raceway on Saturday, as the popular Midwestern touring sprint-car series makes its first-ever appearance at the northern Wisconsin track. (submitted / IRA file photo)by Nick Gima
In what has become the most anticipated racing event in the Northland this summer, the ABC Raceway will host its first-ever visit by the Bumper-to-Bumper IRA Outlaw Sprint Series on Saturday, July 30.
The northern Illinois-based Midwestern regional touring series features 410-cubic-inch, 800-plus-horsepower winged sprint cars that are sure to turn record-setting laps on the three-eighths-mile red-clay oval, as part of a program to be presented by Wagner’s Ashland Shell and Arby’s Restaurant.
The IRA tours throughout the middle of the country, with events scattered throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois making up their 2011 schedule. In addition, many of the Series’ stars often compete with World of Outlaws drivers at several prestigious national sprint car events, such as the storied Knoxville Nationals in Iowa.
Heading up the field of over 20 outlaw sprinters expected to make this very special trip up north is three-time and defending IRA champion Billy Balog, a native Alaskan who now calls Brookfield, WI, his home. Balog has been on a recent tear of the Series’ schedule, having won seven of the IRA’s last ten events, including one stretch of five straight from late May until mid-June at five different race tracks.
Balog currently leads the Series’ points standings after 13 completed events, and after Saturday’s show here there will only be 12 more scheduled races remaining, making this a very important night of racing for the IRA travelers in their overall championship hunt.
Among those scheduled to join Balog for the long trek north are former IRA Series champs Scotty Neitzel and John Haeni, Midwest Sprint Association titlists Wayne Modjeski and TJ Leudke, and former Knoxville track record holder Mike Reinke, a veteran IRA multi-feature winner who currently sits second in Series points. It’s estimated that most if not all of the top 20 in the current IRA points standings will be in town to take on a track that none of them have ever seen before, much less raced on.
The IRA Outlaw Sprint Series makes a return trip to the Northland on Friday, September 9, as part of the Northern Nationals weekend at the AmsOil Speedway in Superior.
In addition to this historic event, FastLane Motorsports & Custom Powdercoating of Ashland will play host to its annual Super Stock Challenge here. The lone WISSOTA-sanctioned division in action on this night will run a complete set of qualifying races and a 25-lap feature paying an enhanced purse that will include a $600 winner’s check.
In years past this event has been tied with specials featuring WISSOTA modifieds and even late models, but this is the first time the “Challenge” has been run in conjunction with a sprint car show. Current divisional points leader and seven-time defending track champ Scott Lawrence won the first three of these events, in 2006-’08, but Duane Dale (2009) and Shane Kisling (2010) have captured the past two runnings.
The Raceway’s unique six-cylinder division will round out what promises to be a terrific night of racing, as their points battle is also very intense, with only 44 points separating the top eight in the standings.
The modifieds, WISSOTA Midwest mods and ABC pure stocks will take the night off, but all three divisions will be back for each of the remaining four Saturday nights of regular-season action during August, along with the supers and sixes.
Admission tickets for adults (ages 13 & older) for this very special event are only $18, while kids ages 6-12 can get in for just $5, and young fans ages 5 under are admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.
The pit gates will open at 4 pm on Saturday, while fans will be allowed into the grandstands at 5. Hot laps for the supers and sixes and time-trial qualifying for the IRA sprinters gets going at 6:15, and the first race of the evening will get the green flag at around 7. Prior to the race program, “Race Night” will air live with up-to-date track news and weather information on WBSZ, 93.3 FM, from 4:30-6 pm.
The ABC Raceway is located 3-1/2 miles south of Ashland on State Highway 13 and one mile west on Butterworth Road. For raceday information call (715) 682-4990, or log on to the track’s website,
This article was posted to the website on July 29th, 2011 • Click to view all related content in the following categories
